On April 16, 2007, more than 200 gay men came
to a hospital located in northern Beijing for free sexual health
examinations, the first volunteer medical consultation focused on
homosexuals in Beijing. Most of the examinees were aged in their
30s, and there were also some retired people and university
students.
"About 90 percent of Chinese people believe that homosexuality
will exercise no influence on job selections, which exceeds the
number of 86 percent in America. This is a noticeable progress and
it may mean more tolerance towards homosexuality in China,"said
Professor Li Yinhe, a sociologist focusing on sexology with the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Many experts believe that the tolerance of homosexuals has
indicated progress in social civilization in China. There are about
30 million homosexuals in China, based on academic estimates. The
higher a person's position in the social hierarchy, the more likely
he or she will be tolerant; to accept homosexuality is very common
among white collar-workers with a good income in China, said
Li.
Love between people of the same sex was regarded as a crime 20
years ago and a mental illness as little as 10 years ago in China.
Often, the social pressure for same sex couples does not come from
the public, but rather their families, as most parents aren't ready
to accept their children as homosexuals.
Qiao Qiao is the owner of a lesbian bar in Beijing. "I knew that
I liked girls when I was a teenager, but I always constrained my
emotions. I could not talk about sex with my parents and it was
impossible to tell them I was a homosexual," Qiao said.
Qiao's mother unexpectedly found out her daughter was lesbian
after she had a romantic fling with a woman she met in a bar. Her
parents were surprised and could not understand, and even opposed
to Qiao's love affairs at the beginning, but later they understood
their daughter and showed their acceptance.
"I can understand the feelings of parents. Many of them believe
that raising children is essential to support them in their old
age, which is a Chinese tradition," said Mr. Sun, who works for a
media company.
However, as advances are made in science and technology, more
and more homosexual couples are choosing to have children. Qiao and
her girlfriend have tried artificial insemination, and although
they were not successful they will continue to try.
As a researcher on homosexuality, Li Yinhe is leading the call
for legalizing gay marriage with many proposals and she is the
interest representative for the minority of homosexuals in
China.
"There are no extreme moral opponents against homosexuality in
China, so it is easier for the same sex lovers in China to claim
their rights than in the Western countries, and China is always
making progress,”"said professor Li.
(China.org.cn by Yang Xi, November 14, 2007)
